JerryBaumchen

Hey PLF, Why do you think they have a Half-Time? JerryBaumchen

Hi Air, And this is not directed at you; you're just the last post. Anyone know what Al Krueger was loading his reserve at; since he could not control it during descent? And he is a VERY experienced jumper. JerryBaumchen

Hi dumstuntzz, I'm with you on this. I have packed a few NB-6's many a year ago and they are very tight. Here is the funny part: Skyjack71 thinks it actually makes a difference. There so many variables to this whole thing that nothing makes sense. Oh, and the rate of descent is theoretical; Yes, I do know that rate of descents could have been measured but under what atmospheric conditions, not the same and on Cooper's jump. What if he had blown a panel on opening, then what about the rate of descent? JerryBaumchen

Hi Zing, I remember a 'story' of about that time ( but prior to '88 as Jim Lowe got killed in the summer of '88 ) where Elevator & Lowe were working for some cargo outfit and they crunched a 'bou. Did you ever hear of that? 'competent', Wow, I guess I'll have to fly with you sometime; I always consider him a very damn good pilot. JerryBaumchen

Hmmmm, tempting. I've jumped 26 ft conicals before. Even got a stand-up landing out of one. JerryBaumchen

Retirement; two checks a month. And I almost hate to say this but I have to make an effort to spend all of it each month. JerryBaumchen

I saw this yesterday on my BMW forum; yup, I drive one. A little trivia: when Ricky Nelson ( of Ozzie & Harriet fame ) turned 16 ( 1956 ) his dad bought him a brand new '56 Porsche. He got about three blocks from the house, with another kid in the car, before he totaled it. Dad bought him another immediately. JerryBaumchen

Hi strato, Here is a portion of an email that I recently sent: I would suggest this: 1. USPA develop the standards for the program ( the criteria for the rating ). 2. Have an outside, independent agency do the inspection/survey/rating/etc. 3. Send the results into USPA who would then provide the certification, if earned. 4. It would be an annual thing. 5. The DZ would have to pay for the inspection of their business. I would handle this just like the ISO Certification Program. ISO is headquartered in Europe and they set the standards. Then the 'inspection' part is done by companies certified by ISO. No one sues anyone if they do not pass the ISO inspection; not that I have ever heard of anyway. You could get some good info on this by contacting Performance Designs. Aubrey Easterlin ( sp ??? ) worked at PD when they got their ISO Certification ( he was PD's point man on their working with the inspection company ) and as a result, he then went to work for the company that did the certification inspection. I am sure PD could put you onto Aubrey. I am also sure that he would offer his thoughts on all of this concept. He did do a seminar on it at the last or next to last Symposium. Just something to think about, JerryBaumchen

Hi howard, A little trivia for you: That year ( '72 ) Jim Lowe did terrible ( he was still jumping a Comp PC ) after having been the Nat'l Champ in '69 & on the '69-'70'-'71 US Teams. He then went out and bought a Cloud. That thing would malfunction about 10% of the time. In fact, on the dz it was "Lowe's going up for a jump. Who want's to watch a function?" A little later he went to work at Para-Gear and that is where he & Gary Lewis got involved with Para-Foils. Jim made the US Team again in '74 ( on a home-made Para-Foil that he built ) and was the first person to ever jump a ram-arm/square in world meet competition. On his first practice jump the Eastern-bloc folks all came out with their cameras and started taking pictures like crazy. It was the last year a round was ever jumped at a World Meet. Just for those who might want to know, JerryBaumchen

Hi Safe, I thought it occurred the evening before Halloween; I remember eating some crappy pumpkin stew at a neighbor's when we heard about it on the news. That would make it 30 Oct 71. Or am I way off base here? JerryBaumchen PS) Heck, maybe MY alibi isn't so good.

Hi Phree, I've been thinking about this ( danger - danger ). I would suggest that they get 3 or 4 disinterested, experienced jumpers, have a number of pre-determined valuation categories and have each jumper rate the product in each category. This way it is not a 'I win, you lose' type of thing. Road & Track does this with their car comparison articles. JerryBaumchen

Hi 2shay, Here is a thought; everyone who is waiting for bigger Optimums should drop PD an email asking for them. It might just work, JerryBaumchen

Hi likes, How about washing and drying it, cutting the lines off of it & then donating it to an elementary school? The kiddies will love you, I think, and you will feel good, I think.

Hi Rob, Re: BodySport USA Heck, yea; give Jim Straight a call ( if you need the number email me ), he is here in the PDX area. However, the company ( as I understand it ) is now in the process of changing ownership. But they will continue to use the same contract stitchers. JerryBaumchen

Hi Charlie, I am sure that Ray Lowe would appreciate a copy of that photo and the other one where he is third from the right. You have his address. Ray always spoke very highly of Strickland ( and probably still does ). However, there was one rather shorter fellow ( I simply cannot remember his name ) that Ray detested; he may have been the NCOIC at one time. JerryBaumchen PS) BTW, you may know/remember that Ray married a German girl ( Christianne and was called Yanni for short ). She was probably the most fantastic, all around woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She died of bone cancer probably 25 yrs ago; very sad.

Hi peckerhead/Scott, I, for one, would rather have five doofus's running, who paid their $50, than just one. At least I would have a choice. I have been a PCA/USPA member since summer '64 and I cannot remember there ever being more than one person on the ballot for RD. One year a write-in candidate beat the sitting RD, though. But that was because he was from the biggest dz in Seattle and the RD was from waay out in the boonies of eastern Washington. Put me down as advocating getting rid of the 10% signature 'thingy.' The more the merrier and may the best person win. JerryBaumchen

Damn, A day late & a dollar short; the story of my life. JerryBaumchen

Hi Flyer, And this is the part that I have always opposed: A nominating committee composed of no fewer than three current BOD Members appointed by the current BOD will nominate candidates for USPA National Director. JerryBaumchen

Hi xlh, You might want to check into that, my son's do not go away with bankruptcy. JerryBaumchen

Hi dumstuntzz, Yup, you are correct. I should have looked very closely. What through me was the color; I have never seen a NB-6 in OD. JerryBaumchen

Hi skypuppy, Very true. And a 'roman candle' means that the canopy is out of the sleeve, if one is used. It is/was not a sleeve-lock. JerryBaumchen

Hi jose, I think that those two photos are of a B-4 container fitted to a NB-6 harness ( not uncommon in those days ). If I remember correctly, the NB-6 container had a shorter pin spacing than a B-4/B-12 container; I 'think' 5 1/2" for the B-4/B-12 & 4 1/2" for the NB-6. But then I could be wrong, JerryBaumchen PS) Where's Dan Poynter when we need him.

Hi howard, In your latest photo the guy has his reserve tie-downs hooked up to the accessory ring on the harness and not to the reserve tie-down ring on the bottom of the container. He is going to have a reserve container flopping around when he needs it, JerryBaumchen

Hi beowulf, Do you get paid for the work that you do? I always did. Remember, no one has to hire a lawyer. JerryBaumchen

Hi riggerpaul, Please keep this thought foremost from now until infinity. I, personally, do not believe that the FAA regulates parachute equipment. They think they do, they say they do; but, IMO, they do not. I disagree with this. However, this is merely my personal opinion. I would be very interested in knowing how many lawsuits have been initiated against the sport gear makers in this country in the last 10 years. Yes, it is very interesting; and, hopefully, somewhat educational. JerryBaumchen